The effect of chromium supplementation on apolipoproteins: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Background: Apos play a role in lipoprotein metabolism. Several studies have been carried out on the effect of chromium supplement in improving CVD risk factors. Objective: This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis that aimed to investigate the effect of chromium supplementation on Apos levels of human studies. Materials and methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus up to May 2020 up to September 2019. We retrieved studies from identified articles. The studies' quality was evaluated using Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. We estimated the effect of chromium supplementation on Apo A, Apo A1, and Apo B by pooling mean and standard deviation (SD) values. Results: We obtained six trials involving 231 participants. Chromium consumption resulted significantly decreased Apo B while the subjects were ingesting chromium picolinate. Chromium supplementation did not significantly decrease Apo A (WMD: -3.89 mg/dl; 95% CI, -11.96 to 4.18) with no significant heterogeneity (I-2 = 0.00%, p = 0.37). The serum level of Apo A1 did not statistically change following chromium intervention (WMD: 6.11 mg/dl; 95% CI, -7.01 to 19.23) with no significant heterogeneity (I-2 = 0.00%, p = 0.68). Chromium supplementation did not significantly decrease Apo B (WMD: 3.81 mg/dl; 95% CI, -5.32 to 12.94). With no significant heterogeneity ((ID)-D-2 = 42.3%, p = 0.12). Conclusions: The chromium supplement did not have a significant effect on the Apolipoproteins (Apo A, ApoA1 and Apo B). (C) 2020 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.